Storage container with goose neck mirror

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a makeup storage container comprising a housing having a top surface with a rim, a plurality of drawers received in the housing, and a gooseneck mirror coupled to the housing for use by a user in either a sitting or standing position.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/983,009 filed Apr. 23, 2014, the entire disclosure of which ishereby incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a storage container having an integrated gooseneck mirror, such as for storage of makeup and associated tools. Thestorage container is transportable and can be used in either a sittingor standing position.

BACKGROUND

Conventional makeup storage containers are typically not designed to beused in both a sitting and standing position. If such containers haveintegrated mirrors, they tend to be fixed and usable in only oneposition. In addition, most makeup storage containers are difficult toclean and are too small to store larger makeup products and associatedtools.

As such, there is a need for makeup storage containers that canaccommodate a large variety of products and tools, are easy to clean,and can be used in both a sitting and standing position by the user.

SUMMARY

The invention is directed to a makeup storage container having housing,having a top surface with a rim, a plurality of drawers received in thehousing, and a gooseneck mirror coupled to the housing for use by a userin either a sitting or standing position.

The invention further provides a makeup storage container having ahousing, having a top surface with a rim, the rim having at least onecutout portion, a plurality of drawers received in the housing, each ofthe drawers having a front surface, a plurality of knobs coupled to thefront surface of each of the plurality of drawers, and a gooseneckmirror coupled to the top surface of the housing for use by a user ineither a sitting or standing position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a storage container having anintegrated goose neck mirror according to an embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the storage container illustratedin FIG. 1, with the integrated goose neck mirror in a downward position;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the storage container illustratedin FIG. 1, not showing the integrated goose neck mirror according;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the storage container illustratedin FIG. 1 having its drawers opened, not showing the integrated gooseneck mirror; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of the attachment of the goose neck mirror to thestorage container, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention provides a makeup storagecontainer 100 having an integrated goose neck mirror 102. FIG. 1illustrates the goose neck mirror 102 in an upright vertical positionlabeled “A” with respect to the storage container 100. This positioningis most useful if the user is standing while using the mirror 102. FIG.2 illustrates the goose neck mirror 102 in a downward position labeled“B” relative to the top surface 106 of the housing 104. This positioningallows the user to continue to use the mirror 102 even while he/she issitting.

The storage container 100 is formed of a housing 104 generally having asquare box shape, although the container 100 may also have a rectangularshape with a longer length or height. In one embodiment, the housing 104has a top surface 106, bottom surface 108, two side surfaces 110 and112, and a front face 114 (see FIG. 4). The housing 104 may be formed ofany sturdy material, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) or plywood,and then covered in a material that is able to be easily cleaned. In oneembodiment, the material that covers the housing 104 is a laminatematerial. In another embodiment, the housing 104 may be formed of anopaque material so as to keep the contents stored within the container100 private.

In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the top surface 106 ofthe housing 104 may be recessed, such that a rim 116 is formed aroundits perimeter. This rim 116 allows the user to place personal careproducts, makeup, or tools on the top surface 106 of the storagecontainer 100 for easy access without the risk that they will fall off.As depicted in FIG. 3, the rim 116 preferably includes at least onecutout portion, 118 that acts as a handle to allow the user to pick upthe storage container 100. In a preferred embodiment, the rim 116includes at least two cutout portions 118 on opposing sides of the rim116 such that the container 100 may be easily carried by the user. In analternative embodiment (not shown), at least one of the side surfaces110, 112 may include at least one handle 120 for transport of thestorage container 100.

The front face 114 of the housing 104 is generally formed by a pluralityof drawers 122. While the illustrated containers include four drawers122, any number of drawers 122 may be included for a particularapplication. The drawers 122 may be received in the housing 104 onguides, rails, or tracks (not shown) that allow the drawers 122 toeasily align within the housing 104 and to be held in place when in aclosed position. In one embodiment, the guides, rails or tracks includelocking mechanisms that keep the drawers 122 in a closed position whenthe container 100 is being transported. Each of the drawers 122 includesat least one handles, knobs, or pulls 124 coupled to its front surfacethat allows a user to easily open and close the drawers 122. In apreferred embodiment, each of the drawers 122 has two handles or pulls124 adjacent each side surface 110 and 112 of the housing 104. In yetanother embodiment, each of the drawers 122 may include a cutout (notshown) that allows the user to pull the drawer 122 open without the needfor a knob or handle 124. In a preferred embodiment, each of the drawers122 has straps that allow the user to pull open the drawers 122 (notshown). Each of the drawers 120 may be labeled with words, symbols,numbers, or other indicia 126 on its front surface to allow the user toorganize his/her personal care products for easy access. While thedrawers 122 may be constructed to any size according to the particularapplication, the drawers 122 are sufficiently deep and tall so as toallow for the storage of larger or bulky makeup and tools.

The goose neck mirror 102 may have any construction known in the art foruse in personal care applications. The mirror 102 may be formed ofchrome, nickel, steel, or any other durable, lightweight and inexpensivemetal. The mirror 102 may have a round shape, as illustrated in theFigures, or it may have any other shape known in the art, includingsquare, oval, rectangular, etc. While the length of the goose neck 128is not particularly limited, it should be sufficiently long so that theuser can utilize the mirror 102 while standing or while sitting. In oneembodiment, the goose neck 128 has a length of eight (8) inches orgreater. In one embodiment, the goose neck mirror 102 has two opposingmirrored surfaces 130, at least one of which is magnified to assist theuser in application of makeup or for other uses that requiremagnification. Optical magnification levels of at least 10× may beprovided with the goose neck mirror 102. Additionally, lightingfeatures, such as LED backlighting (not shown), may also be providedwith the goose neck mirror 102.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the integrated goose neck mirror 102 ispreferably coupled to the top surface 106 of the housing. In oneembodiment, the integrated goose neck mirror 102 is coupled to the topsurface 106 of the housing 104 at one of its four corners 106 a-d.Placement of the goose neck mirror 102 in one of the corners 106 a-dallows for a larger range of motion of the mirror 102 by the user. Inanother embodiment (not shown), the goose neck mirror 102 may be coupledto one of the side surfaces 110 or 112. The goose neck mirror 102 may beattached to the housing 104 using screws, bolts, or any other fixedattachment device. The goose neck mirror 102 should be sufficientlyattached to the housing 104 such that it will not inadvertently becomedetached or move when the mirror 102 is adjusted by the user. In oneembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the goose neck 128 may extend througha hole in the top surface 106 of the housing 104 and attach on theinside of the housing 104 via a screw thread attachment 132.

While the present invention has been described above, it should be clearthat many changes and modifications may be made to the process andproduct without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A makeup storage container comprising: a housinghaving a top surface with a rim; a plurality of drawers received in thehousing; and a gooseneck mirror coupled to the housing for use by a userin either a sitting or standing position.
 2. The makeup storagecontainer of claim 1, wherein the housing is formed of medium-densityfiberboard or plywood.
 3. The makeup storage container of claim 1,wherein the top surface of the housing is recessed such that the rim isformed around its perimeter.
 4. The makeup storage container of claim 1,further comprising at least one cutout formed in the rim.
 5. The makeupstorage container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of pullscoupled to a front surface of each of the plurality of drawers.
 6. Themakeup storage container of claim 5, wherein each of the plurality ofdrawers includes two pulls coupled to the front surface thereof.
 7. Themakeup storage container of claim 1, further comprising indicia on afront surface of each of the plurality of drawers for organization. 8.The makeup storage container of claim 1, wherein the goose neck mirroris formed of chrome, nickel, or steel.
 9. The makeup storage containerof claim 1, wherein a neck of the goose neck mirror has a length of atleast eight inches.
 10. The makeup storage container of claim 1, whereinthe goose neck mirror has two opposing mirrored surfaces, at least oneof which is magnified.
 11. The makeup storage container of claim 10,wherein the magnified mirrored surface has a magnification of at least10×.
 12. The makeup storage container of claim 1, wherein the goose neckmirror further includes lighting.
 13. The makeup storage container ofclaim 12, wherein the lighting is LED backlighting.
 14. The makeupstorage container of claim 1, wherein the goose neck mirror is coupledto the top surface of the housing.
 15. The makeup storage container ofclaim 14, wherein the top surface of the housing has four opposingcorners and the goose neck mirror is coupled to the top surface at oneof the opposing corners.
 16. The makeup storage container of claim 1,wherein the housing has two opposing side surfaces and the goose neckmirror is coupled to one of the opposing side surfaces.
 17. The makeupstorage container of claim 1, wherein the goose neck mirror is fixedlycoupled to the housing using screws or bolts.
 18. The makeup storagecontainer of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the housing includes ahole through which the goose neck mirror is coupled to an interior ofthe housing.
 19. A makeup storage container comprising: a housing havinga top surface with a rim, the rim having at least one cutout portions; aplurality of drawers received in the housing, each of the drawers havinga front surface; a plurality of knobs coupled to the front surface ofeach of the plurality of drawers; and a gooseneck mirror coupled to thetop surface of the housing for use by a user in either a sitting orstanding position.